Carnation plant named ‘Hildyna’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Carnation plant named ‘Hildyna’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; large dark red-colored double flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HILDYNA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCarnation plant, botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, growncommercially as a potted and garden plant and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Hildyna’.

The new Carnation plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new potted Carnation plants thathave uniform plant habit and numerous unique and attractive flowers.

The new Carnation plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in May, 2007 of a proprietaryselection of Dianthus caryophyllus identified as code number A 16148-01,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Dianthus caryophyllus identified as code number SE-12-C,not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Carnation plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in July, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Carnation plant by terminal cuttingspropagated in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, TheNetherlands since 2008 has shown that the unique features of this newCarnation plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Carnation have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Hildyna’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Hildyna’ as a new and distinct Carnation plant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded        plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large dark red-colored double flowers that are positioned        above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Carnation differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation have longer branches than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Carnation are more round in        shape than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Flower color of plants of the new Carnation is darker red        than flower color of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Carnation differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation have shorter branches than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation are more freely flowering than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Flower color of plants of the new Carnation is darker red        than flower color of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Carnation can be compared to plants of Dianthuscaryophyllus ‘Sunflor Triton’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,743.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Kwakel, The Netherlands,plants of the new Carnation differed from plants of ‘Sunflor Triton’ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation were more vigorous than plants of        ‘Sunflor Triton’.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation had darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘Sunflor Triton’.    -   3. Plants of the new Carnation had larger flowers with more        petals per flower than plants of ‘Sunflor Triton’.    -   4. Plants of the new Carnation and ‘Sunflor Triton’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘Sunflor Triton’ had purple        red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Carnation plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Carnation plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Hildyna’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements describe plants grown during the late winter and earlyspring in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel,The Netherlands and under cultural practices which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial potted Carnation production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 12° C. andlight levels averaged 7,000 lux. Plants were pinched one time five weeksafter planting. Plants used for the description were 20 weeks old andplants used for the photograph were 25 weeks old. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Hildyna’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus            caryophyllus identified as code number A 16148-01, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus            caryophyllus identified as code number SE-12-C, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at 20° C. to            25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type and form.—Herbaceous perennial; upright, somewhat            outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit;            roughly globular in shape.        -   Branching habit.—Freely-branching growth habit; when            pinched, about seven basal branches develop each with about            six secondary branches; dense and bushy growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 11 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 17.1 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Internode length: About 1.8 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 7.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 8 mm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate, decurrent.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A to            143B; towards the base, close to 144B. Developing leaves,            lower surface: Close to 143B; towards the base, close to            144B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C;            venation, close to N137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to N137D; venation, close to 143A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Rotate double flowers usually            arranged in terminal sprays; freely flowering habit with            typically about 30 flowers developing per plant; flowers            positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to slightly            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—Flowers faintly fragrant; sweet, clove-like.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous through            the summer and late summer in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about 13 weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Spray height.—About 5.4 cm.        -   Spray diameter.—About 6.2 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 3.9 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Color: Between N186C and 200A; towards the            base, close to 144A.        -   Petals and petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About 20            petals per flower arranged in the outer whorls and about 25            petaloids (transformed stamens) per flower in the inner            whorls. Length, petals: About 3.8 cm. Width, petals: About            2.3 cm. Length, petaloids: About 3.1 cm. Width, petaloids:            About 1.5 cm. Shape, petals: Spatulate. Shape, petaloids:            Irregularly narrow spatulate. Apex, petals and petaloids:            Praemorse. Base, petals and petaloids: Acute. Margin, petals            and petaloids: Entire. Texture, petals and petaloids, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, petals            and petaloids: When opening, upper surface: Darker than 53A;            base, close to 145D. When opening, lower surface: Darker            than between 53A and 187B; base, close to 145D. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 53A; towards the base,            flushed with close to 61B; base, close to 145D. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 53B; base, close to 145D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl;            proximal 70% of the sepals are fused. Length: About 2 cm.            Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Broadly acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 147D;            towards the apex, close to 183C. When opening, lower            surface: Between N186C and 200A; margins, close to 187A;            base, close to 144A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            147D; towards the apex, close to 183C. Fully opened, lower            surface: Between N186C and 200A; margins, close to 187A;            base, close to N137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 20° from vertical.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils:            Quantity: About three per flower. Pistil length: About 2 cm.            Stigma shape: Pointed; curved. Stigma color: Close to N186D.            Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Towards the apex,            close to 72B; towards the base, close to NN155D. Ovary            color: Close to N144A. Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed            development have not been observed on plants of the new            Carnation.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Carnation have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Carnation    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Carnation have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to 35° C. and to be hardy to    USDA Hardiness Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Carnation plant named ‘Hildyna’ asillustrated and described.